PORT ANGELES — North Olympic Peninsula unemployment crept up last month as its labor force grew by 520 residents, the state Employment Security Department estimated in figures released Tuesday.
Clallam County unemployment went from a revised 8.2 percent in October to a preliminary 8.9 percent in November.
Jefferson County’s jobless rate for November was 8.1 percent, up from a revised 7.8 percent in October, officials said.
A breakdown of the number and type of jobs gained or lost in November was not released with the monthly estimates.
The Clallam County labor force grew from 27,020 residents in October to 27,360 in November. Last month’s total includes 2,430 who were unemployed.
The Jefferson County workforce went from 11,250 in October to 11,430 in November, including 930 who were seeking a job.
Unemployment statistics don’t count those who commute to other counties or have stopped looking for work.
Local unemployment rates were similar in November 2013, at 8.4 percent in Clallam County and 8.1 percent in Jefferson County.
King County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 4.4 percent last month. Wahkiakum County had the highest jobless rate at 10.5 percent in November.
Statewide joblessness went from 6 percent in October to 6.2 percent in November despite a gain of an estimated 6,800 new jobs, Employment Security officials said.
The unemployment rate in the Seattle area dropped slightly in November from 4.8 percent to 4.7 percent, officials said.
The national unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.